PBKS vs RCB Highlights: Venkatesh, Kohli power Bengaluru to IPL 2026 playoffs as Punjab register 6th successive loss

Venkatesh Iyer wins the Player of the Match award for his 73* off 40 balls inning today.

"The brand of cricket that RCB plays is something that excites me a lot. Obviously I played for KKR so there is an emotional bond but I really feel at home here. I'll be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated because I wanted to play. But I do understand that this is a champion team and to tinker with the combination isn't always right. But I always made an impression on the coaching staff that I want to play and will make an impact and am happy for the opportunity."

The ball that got us to the PLAYOFFS 🎟️🙌 pic.twitter.com/Cg8uFQTPCh

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 17, 2026

"Obviously, they got off to a great start, and they're taking on the bowlers right after the powerplay. Getting to 222 is a commendable performance. I think the match was lost in the powerplay. We were three down in the powerplay and a majority of our run scorers were out early. Really disappointed but commendable performances with Shashank and Stoinis and a few others. We were up there with the 10-runs an over mark but amazing bowling by Hazlewood and Bhuvi."

The 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 is ON! 🏆

Reigning champions @RCBTweets become the 1⃣st team to enter the #TATAIPL 2026 Playoffs 😎 ❤️

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/3u5qL0Zn75#KhelBindaas | #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/1XAjPzeHnV

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

With RCB securing a playoff spot and Punjab Kings losing a crucial game, RR, SRH, CSK and KKR find themselves favourites for the top-four finish.

Punjab can only reach 15 points if they beat LSG in their last game. However, 15 points won't be enough to make the playoffs this season, and they'll need some help from other teams.

CSK can reach 16 points if they beat SRH and GT, two in-form teams, in their remaining two games.

GT, with 16 points, are expected to make the playoffs even if they lose against CSK in their last group-stage game. SRH need a win from two games and RR need two wins in three matches to reach 16 points.

KKR and DC also remain in the hunt for the playoff spot, but both need a miracle and some luck to make it happen.

No drama in the final over as Rasikh Dar dismisses both Shashank Singh and Azmatullah Omarzai to win it for RCB.

It's RCB's 9th win of the season, and they become the first team to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2026. Punjab Kings remains 4th in the points table with 13 points in 13 matches.

RCB - 222/4 in 20 overs

PBKS - 199/8 in 20 overs

Royal Challenegers Bengaluru win by 23 runs

Josh Hazlewood concedes just 7 runs in the 19th over to probably win it for RCB. A stunning over from the Aussie pacer to crush Punjab's hopes.

Azmatullah Omarzai - 14 off 9 balls

Shashank Singh - 54 off 25 balls

PBKS - 190/6 in 19 overs (CRR 10.00, RRR 33.00)

Punjab Kings need 33 runs in 6 balls to win the game

Shashank Singh smashes Bhuvneshwar Kumar for two fours and Azmatullah Omarzai finds a stunning six over the covers to take the game to the wire. Bhuvi finishes with 2 for 38 today.

Azmatullah Omarzai - 9 off 5 balls

Shashank Singh - 52 off 23 balls

PBKS - 183/6 in 18 overs (CRR 10.18, RRR 20.00)

Punjab Kings need 40 runs in 12 balls to win the game

Josh Hazlewood with Marcus Stoinis' wicket on an LBW dismissal. A big breakthrough from the Aussie bowler to crush Punjab's revived hopes.

Stoinis scored 37 off 25 balls. Azmatullah Omarzai comes in at No. 8.

PBKS - 161/5 in 16.3 overs (CRR 9.75, RRR 17.71)

Punjab Kings need 62 runs in 21 balls to win the game

Into the stands x 3⃣ 🙌

Shashank Singh keeping the fight on for #PBKS 👊

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/3u5qL0Zn75#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/fOyfJWs1qq

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026

Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh have been excellent in the crucial stage of the game as they find 14 runs off Bhuvenshwar Kumar in the 16th over. The game is on at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

Shashank Singh - 42 off 17 balls

Marcus Stoinis - 37 off 24 balls

PBKS - 160/5 in 16 overs (CRR 10.00, RRR 15.75)

Punjab Kings need 63 runs in 24 balls to win the game

Another big over for PBKS. Marcus Stoinis smashes Rasikh Dar for two back-to-back fours in the 15th over to keep Punjab's hopes alive in the chase.

Shashank Singh - 33 off 14 balls

Marcus Stoinis - 32 off 21 balls

PBKS - 146/5 in 15 overs (CRR 9.73, RRR 15.40)

Punjab Kings need 77 runs in 30 balls to win the game

Jacob Bethell drops a sitter as Marcus Stoinis survives. Shashank Singh continues his hammering with two fours off Krunal Pandya in the 14th over. Punjab are looking for another big over to stage a stunning comeback.

Shashank Singh - 31 off 12 balls

Marcus Stoinis - 23 off 17 balls

PBKS - 134/5 in 14 overs (CRR 9.57, RRR 14.83)

Punjab Kings need 89 runs in 36 balls to win the game

Shashank Singh smashes Suyash Sharma for 3 big sixes to boost Punjab's hopes for a comeback. A big over from the RCB spinner to lose momentum.

Shashank Singh - 21 off 8 balls

Marcus Stoinis - 21 off 15 balls

PBKS - 122/5 in 13 overs (CRR 9.38, RRR 14.32)

Punjab Kings need 101 runs in 42 balls to win the game

After Krunal's economical over, Suyash Sharma delivers Suryansh Shedge's wicket in the 11th over. Shedge goes for a big shot over the mid-off and finds Virat Kohli on the boundary lines, who takes a good catch. A big wicket for RCB to take control of the game.

Shedge scored 35 off 22 balls. Shashank Singh comes in at No. 7.

PBKS - 93/5 in 11 overs (CRR 8.45, RRR 14.44)

Punjab Kings need 130 runs in 54 balls to win the game